"Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns;there are things we know we know.We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns-the ones we don't know we don't know."
Donald Rumsfeld

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Can Stress Lead to Hair Loss?

We all lose about 50-100 hairs per day. This may sound like a lot, but the average scalp contains 100,000 hairs. However, if you notice that you seem to lose more hair when you’re stressed, it’s true! Excessive physical or emotional stress can in fact lead to hair loss. However, most hair loss related to stress is not permanent – but it is important to learn to control your stress!

The three most common types of temporary hair loss include:

Alopecia areata is categorized by small bald spots in one particular area. It normally affects the scalp, but can also include the eyebrows or beard. Hair typically grows back after several months but may require treatment.

Telogen effluvium is a sudden loss of hair due to interruption of the normal hair growth cycle. Surgery (causing physical stress) is often to blame for this condition. Hair thins and falls out, particularly when washing or combing the hair. Hair typically grows back within 6 to 9 months.

Traction alopecia is a condition resulting from hairstyles that pull too tightly on the hair follicle, including braids, tight ponytails, cornrows, chignons, buns or twists.

In more serious cases, stress can lead to a condition known as trichotillomania, which is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows or other areas of the body. Hair pulling thus becomes a coping mechanism to offset feelings of stress, anxiety, tension, or frustration.

Natural help for stress

A holistic approach is the most effective, long-term way to achieve stress relief. Evaluate your overall health, including sleep, diet, and exercise levels. Are all adequately balanced and fulfilled, or does one area need more attention?

Next, identify your largest sources of stress and work on tackling them one at a time, rather than all at once. There will always be things you cannot change, but often putting stressors in perspective and coming up with viable tactics for each one can mitigate the combined effects.